God's Story Is Our Story: From Acts to New CreationSample

Often when we read about slavery in the Bible, all kinds of questions rise up about whether God endorses slavery or not.

In Deuteronomy 15:4, we see that it was never God's will that slavery would exist among his people. If they were fully just and good, there wouldn't be a need for slavery. However, God is also aware that people are not fully just and good. So, the Bible recognizes that an economic slavery (not a racial one that we had in our American history) would happen as people found themselves in desperate economic situations. But, the OT law forbade the mistreatment of slaves. They were to be treated fairly and freed either when their debt was paid or the year of jubilee came around.

In the New Testament, we see slavetrading condemned as a sin (1 Timothy 1:10, Revelation 18:13). But, it too recognizes that slavery (again primarily economic) would exist. However, this is not an endorsement of slavery. Paul says for masters to treat their slaves well and for slaves to work hard and treat their masters with respect. Even though people might find themselves in desperate economic situations where some find themselves at risk of being taken advantage of by others, Paul says Christians are to primarily see ourselves as brothers and sisters and not slaves and masters. The ideal is for all slaves to be free of their debts and from being at risk of those in power over them. He encourages slaves to achieve their own freedom if they can (1 Corinthians 7:10), and Paul, himself works for the freedom of a slave, Onesimus.

Christians should ultimately be people working to aid and liberate those who are at risk but with the tools of truth, forgiveness, and faith.